Faucet



A. M. vEDoE FAUCET Filed Dec. 11, 1957' June 4, 1940.

16 Iwvewow ANTON Nl. VEooE @E J Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to faucets and more particularly to water faucetsor taps. In one aspect the invention is concerned with a faucet of theself-closing type so constructed that the closing action is delayed apredetermined period of time. Such faucet is more particularlyapplicable to use in public places where water taps are carelessly leftopen with a resulting waste of water and wherein the automatic closingof the faucet after a predetermined period of time would eliminate thiswaste. I am aware that faucets of this type are not broadly new andaccordingly, it is an object of my invention toproduce an improved andsuperior faucet of this type which will serve the intended function withgreater efficiency and which is so constructed that it can bemanufactured, assembled and serviced with greater facility than has beenpossible with such faucets heretofore known. The purpose of the faucetis to provide a ilow of water sufficiently long to permit washing of thehands, leaving both hands free, but which faucet will automaticallyclose at the end of the predetermined period.

During the period that the faucet is open it is desirable that the waterflow shall be such as to provide a suitable flow without such pressureas to cause splashing and waste. To this end, a further aspect of myinvention relates to cooperating means for regulating this ow. Inaccordance with the invention, this means is in the nature of a secondand adjustable valve in the faucet and under the control of the valvestem whereby the flow may be easily and conveniently regulated bymanipulating the valve stem and without requiring disassembling of thefaucet.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other andfurther objects thereof, reference is had to the accompanying drawing,in which y Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a faucet embodying myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing thefaucet in closed position,

Fig. 3 is a like sectional View showing the faucet in open position, and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 4 4, 5 5 and 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to thev drawing by reference characters, 'I0 indicates thebody of the faucet having a chamber therein and a downwardly eX- tendingcasing with an inlet ow passage I2 therethrough and an exit spout I4both in communication with the chamber. 'Ihe faucet is adapted to bemounted on a support I5 and connected to a rwater supply` pipe at I6.'I'he body is recessed at the top end of the casing to receive ametallic valve seat member 26 which ts within this recess against a softmetal washer 2I resting on an annular shoulder at the inner end of thecasing. 'Ihe member 2B has a centrally disposed opening 22 therethroughand its edge is chamfered to form an annular boss extending into thechamber and providing an annular shoulder around the boss. Mounted inthe chamber outwardly of and in alignment with the passage I2 is acylinder I8, the cylinder being a removable part of the faucet andpreferably a piece of tubing open at both ends. The inner end of thecylinder rests on said annular shoulder and fits over the boss, wherebyaccurately and securely locating and seating the inner end of thecylinder and forming a closure therefor. The chamber is provided withcylindrically curved wall surfaces engaging and supporting the cylinderagainst lateral movement at both ends thereof and intermediate the ends.Water is adapted to flow upwardly through the opening 22 and outwardlythrough an opening 24 in the bottom end of the cylinder, the faucet bodybeing annularly chambered at 25 to accommodate flow from the opening 24-in all rotative positions of the cylinder.

A valve stem 26 extends through the cylinder I8, through the opening 22and into the passage I2, and carries a Valve 28 on its inner endcooperating with the seat at-the opening 22. The stem also passesthrough an opening 29 in a piston 30 engaging the cylinder wall, thepiston at said opening providing a seat for a second valve 32 fixed tothe steminwardly of the piston. The valves 28 and 32 are held in spacedrelation on the stern by a tube mounted on the stem therebetween, asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the combined valves and tube being held inplace by a lock nut threaded to the inner end of the stem. Transversepins 33 carried by the stem outwardly of the piston are so spaced fromthe valve 32 that the stem has a limited longitudinal movement relativeto the piston, as is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3.

Outwardly of the cylinder I8 the casing is provided with a threadedrecess to receive a bushing 34, the bushing being threaded into therecess against a soft metal washer 35 and abutting against the outer endof the cylinder. In such position the bushing serves to secure the piece20 and the cylinder in fixed position in the casing. The stem 26 passesupwardly through the bushing which is provided with a packing 36surrounding the stern. A by-pass 38 extends from the cylinder throughthe stem to the chamber at the Aother side of the piston and the owcapacity of this by-pass may be varied by a needle valve 40 threadedlongitudinally into the stem at 42. A stem actuating cap 44 is securedby a screw threaded pin 45 to the outer end of the stem and a spring 46surrounding the stem is housed within a chamber 41 within this cap andthe bushing, the spring acting against the cap to normally move the stemoutwardly.

Flow of water into the passage I2 may be controlled by a valve 48cooperating with a valve seat 59 and having a portion 52 of relativelylarge diameter in threaded engagement with the casing at 54, the portion52 being recessed at 56 to permit uniform ow of water therethrough inall positions of adjustment thereof. It will be apparent that thisconstruction provides a rugged and firm support which maintains thevalve 48 in proper alignment with its seat at all times. The outer endof this valve is provided with a slot 58 for receiving a bit BU on theinner end of the valve stem. Inward movement of the stem is limited by astud 32 threaded into the bushing and forming a stop for engagement bythe cap 44, the cap being recessed at 64 to receive the stud 62 andprovide access to the threaded pin 45. As illustrated in Fig. 3, thestud 62 provides a stop for limiting inward movement of the stem to aposil tion short of engagement of the bit 60 within the slot 53. Thestud 62 also prevents rotation of the stem, whereby preventingunwarranted adjustment of the valve 48.

When it is desired to rotatably adjust the valve S8- 52, the stud 62 isremoved whereupon the stem bit may be forced into engagement with theslot 5B and they valve rotated with the stem. Thus this valve may beadjusted to give a desired rate of flow without disassembling the faucetand it will be furthermore apparent that, when the faucet is to bedisassembled for repairs, the valve 48 may rst be brought to the fullyclosed position and the water shut off merely by rotating the valvethrough the use of the stem as a rotating medium.

The use and operation of my improved faucet is believed to be apparent.In the normal position of the faucet (Fig. 2), the spring 46 holds thevalve 28 closed. Depressing of the cap 44 forces the stem 26 inwardlyand opens both valves 28 and 32 whereupon water flows past the valve 28and out the spout I4. Depressing of the stem also causes inward movementof the piston 30, by pins 33, whereupon water ows past the valve 32 intothe chamber above the piston. When pressure on the cap 44 is released,the spring tends immediately to move the stem outwardly. This action atonce closes the valve 32 and further outward movement of the stem ischecked by the water trapped within the cylinder I8 outwardly of thepiston. Outward movement of the stem and closing of the valve 28 arethereupon delayed for the period of time consumed in the trapped waterescaping through the bypass 38, and this time period may be varied byadjusting the needle valve 4D. It will be furthermore apparent that thisneedle valve is hidden in the valve stem where it is convenientlyaccessible merely by removing the cap 44.

The amount of water permitted to ow from the spout may also beconveniently regulated by removing the stud 62, forcing the stem to itsinnermost position and the bit 60 into the slot 58, and then rotatingthe stem and valve 48 to give the flow desired. As illustrated in Fig.3, the stud 62 normally acts as a stop preventing rotation orlongitudinal movement of the stem to this innermost position. Attentionis also called to the general assembly of my improved faucet, the samecomprising the body l0 and the relatively simple and easily manufacturedparts cooperating therewith all o which are easily assembled into thefaucet unit. The faucet may also be easily and conveniently servicedwithout water flow interference merely by closing the valve 48 throughthe use of the stem as a valve rotating means, as above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A faucet comprising a body having a chamber therein and relativelyangular casing and spout elements having passages therethrough incommunication with the chamber at their inner ends, the body having arecess including an annular shoulder at the inner end of the casing, ametallic valve seat member fitting within the recess against saidshoulder and having a centrally disposed opening therethrough and achamfered edge providing an inwardly extending boss surrounded by aninnular shoulder, a piece of tubing open at both ends providing aremovable cylinder in the chamber in alignment with the casing andhaving one end tting over and enclosing the boss and seating againstsaid shoulder, a vaive stem in the cylinder extending through saidopening in the valve seat member and carrying a valve cooperating withthe valve seat at said opening, a spring operative on the stem to move'the Valve onto the seat and close the opening, a piston operating inthe cylinder and having a flow opening therethrough, a second valvecarried by the stem inwardly of and cooperating with the piston inposition normally closing the flow opening under the action of thespring, inward movement of the stem being adapted to open both valves,means carried by the stem to move the piston inwardly with the stemafter opening of the second valve, means providing a limited flowlay-pass from the cylinder, and a member threaded into the bodyoutwardly of the cylinder and serving to secure the cylinder fromoutward longitudinal movement.

2. A faucet comprising a body having a chamber therein and relativelyangular casing and spout elements having passages therethrough incommunication with the chamber, a valve seat member at the inner end ofthe casing having a centrally disposed opening therethrough, a tubularremovable cylinder in the chamber in alignment with the casing andhaving an open end cooperating with the valve seat member, the chamberhaving curved wall surfaces relatively spaced along and at the ends ofthe cylinder and engaging the cylinder to support it against lateralmovement within the chamber, a valve stem in the cylinder extendingthrough said opening in the valve seat member and carrying a valvecooperating with the valve seat at said opening, a spring operative onthe stem to move the valve onto the seat and close the opening, a pistonoperating in the cylinder and having a flow opening therethrough, asecond valve carried by the stem inwardly of and cooperating with thepiston in position normally closing the How opening under the action ofthe spring, inward movement of the stem being adapted to open bothvalves, means carried by the stem to move the piston inwardly with thestem after opening of the second valve, means providing a limited flowbypass from tho cylinder, and a member threaded into the body outwardlyof the cylinder and serving to secure the cylinder from outwardlongitudinal movement.

3. A faucet comprising a casing having a flow passage therethrough, aflow controlling valve in the passage in threaded engagement with thecasing, rotation of the valve in opposite directions being adaptedrespectively to open and close the valve, a valve stem in the passageoutwardly of said valve, a second ow controlling valve car- `ried lbythe stem outwardly of the rst named valve, means providing a connectionbetween the rst named valve and the stem whereby rotation of the stemrotates the rst named valve, and removable stop means preventingrotation of the stem.

4. A faucet comprising a casing having a flow passage therethrough, aflow controlling valve in the passage in threaded engagement with thecasing, rotation of* the valve in opposite directions being adaptedrespectively to open and close the valve, a valve stem in the passageoutwardly of said valve, a second ow controlling valve carried by thestem outwardly of the first named valve, cooperating means carried bythe stem at its inner end and by the rst named valve at its outer endfor rotating the valve with the stem when said means is engaged, aspring normally holding the stem outwardly to a position wherein saidcooperating means are disengaged, and removable stop means preventinginward longitudinal movement of the stem to a -position engaging saidcooperating means.

ANTON M. VEDOE.

